Trump throws scandal-plagued Republican under the bus as campaign crumbles

President Donald Trump disavowed a scandal-plagued Republican congressman he had endorsed for re-election.

The 80-year-old president extended his "complete and total endorsement for re-election" to Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) in February, despite allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations, but he claimed after Tuesday's primary election that he told the Florida Republican to drop out.

"I told Congressman Cory Mills of Florida, a friend of mine, to get out of the Race, but he wouldn’t listen," Trump posted Wednesday morning. "He thought he could win, so who can blame him? We now have a great candidate, Ryan Elijah, running in his place! Ryan stands for EVERYTHING MAGA, and is respected by ALL. He has my Complete and Total Endorsement!"

Elijah, a former TV journalist, won the GOP nomination over Mills in Florida’s 7th District, a seat Trump carried by 12 percentage points in 2024.

Democrats had hoped to make that district competitive in November, especially if Mills – the subject of probes by House Ethics Committee and the Justice Department – had been on the ballot.